Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo celebrates Earth Month

(Hawaii News Now) - In celebration of Earth Month, the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services and the Hawaii State Department of Health present the 7th annual Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo, Saturday, April 19, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Waikiki Aquarium.

The freeexpo will have interactive booths to showcase programs that preserve and protect Hawaii's environment, including demonstrating rain gardens. The expo promotes the importance of keeping O‘ahu's streams and stormwater runoff free of pollution, from the mountaintops to the ocean.

Activities include hands-on displays; picture taking with Apoha, the oopu, and friends; water pollution prevention information; Everday Clean Water Hero award medals; activity books and ocean-related arts and crafts for keiki. Families will receive passport booklets to be stamped upon visiting the booths. The first 500 families to complete the stamps in their passport booklet will receive a free native Hawaiian plant, courtesy of Hawaiian Electric Company. Drawings will be made at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for water-related prizes, including family passes to the Waikiki Aquarium. Food will be available for purchase. Complimentary water stations will be provided by Aloha Water for guests who bring refillable bottles.

Surgeonfish feeding will also be featured. The surgeonfish being bred at the Aquarium, are valuable to Hawaii's ecosystem for their potential role in feeding on invasive algae. The event co-sponsors are the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services and Hawaii State Department of Health. Waikiki Aquarium is an event partner.